South Lakeland

South Lakeland's population grew older in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in health, work life and housing tenure.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Lakeland increased by 1.3%, from about 102,000 to 104,000.

The addition of just under 1,400 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Lakeland was home to, on average, 0.49 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the North West's second-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Lakeland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Lakeland increased by four years, from 44 to 48 years.

This agricultural area had the highest average age in the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 16% of people in South Lakeland are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and South Lakeland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Lakeland

The percentage of South Lakeland residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 8.1% to 8.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage of South Lakeland residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in South Lakeland

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in South Lakeland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North West.

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 30% to 36%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of South Lakeland residents that were studying increased from 2.4% to 2.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 49% in 2001. The percentage of South Lakeland residents that were unemployed remained close to 2.0%.

The proportion of students decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North West. The improvement brought health in South Lakeland close to the regional average 3.5% in the North West described their health as good in 2011).

The percentage of students was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Lakeland residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 4.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of South Lakeland residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Lakeland decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Lakeland, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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